Chapter 9 The Last Message
Xu Yan went out to buy groceries.
Xu Jiaqing kept calling himself my sick little brother-in-law and ordered me around.
One minute he wanted water, the next he needed a new cooling patch.
Now he was complaining about a headache…
“Sister-in-Law, could you help me…”
“No.”
“I haven’t even told you what I need yet, and you’re already shutting me down so hard?”
“Yes.” I set the glass down and turned to leave.
I accidentally bumped into the chair behind me. Trying to dodge, I lost balance and fell backward onto the bed.
“Hiss…”
Xu Jiaqing hissed in pain. “The Synesthesia Link between me and my brother isn’t over yet. When he gets back, I’m not explaining this for you.”
“Xu Jiaqing, how can you be so…” I looked down and realized I really had landed on him.
I scrambled up and said sternly, “Stop using that Synesthesia Link nonsense to scare me. I looked up everything. Even between brothers, there’s no such thing as Synesthesia Link. At most, family members might have some coincidences. That’s all.”
For the first time, Xu Jiaqing didn’t argue. “Yeah. You’re right.”
Right then, the sound of a key turning came from the door.
When Xu Yan walked into the bedroom, he was carrying two bags of ingredients.
His sharp features were flushed from hurrying, two faint red patches on his cheeks.
Xu Jiaqing tilted his head. “Brother, what’s the rush?”
Xu Yan stayed quiet for a moment. “I was worried about you.”
Xu Jiaqing smiled. “Don’t worry. Nothing happened between me and Sister-in-Law.”
My hands clenched into fists again.
We made it through dinner. Finally Xu Jiaqing said he’d taken cold medicine and needed rest.
When Xu Yan and I left his apartment, the sky had already turned dark.
Dinner had been too heavy. I popped an orange-flavored candy into my mouth.
It cut through the greasiness perfectly.
I was about to ask Xu Yan if he wanted one when
his breathing suddenly hitched. He braced his hand against the wall.
I noticed something was wrong and hurried to support him. “Xu Yan, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just suddenly feel hot.” Xu Yan shrugged off his coat and undid the top button of his shirt, but it didn’t help.
Was the hallway hot?
I glanced at the half-open window behind us.
Night breeze drifted in steadily. Even in my thick coat, I felt cold.
The temperature outside was barely in the single digits. How could Xu Yan feel hot?
I pressed my palm to his forehead. His skin burned against my hand.
“Xu Yan, you seem to have a fever too… but you were fine all day…”
Xu Yan looked miserable. His eyes squeezed shut, chest heaving hard.
Before I could figure out what was happening, he gripped my waist and kissed me.
He kissed me while mumbling broken apologies, over and over, until the candy in my mouth had completely melted. Only then did he stop.
He rested his forehead on my shoulder. His hair, tousled by the wind, brushed my collarbone and made it itch.
My face burned as I wrapped my arms around his back. “Xu Yan, are you feeling better?”
The moment he lifted his head, his expression held a trace of confusion.
I waved my hand. “It’s me, Xu Yan. Are you still feeling bad?”
His hold on my waist tightened. A flash of satisfaction passed through his reddened eyes.
He curved his lips and gave my mouth another soft kiss.
His smile looked smug and pleased.
By the time I came back to myself, Xu Yan had returned to normal. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Sorry, Tian Wan. I suddenly felt dizzy just now.”
I stared into his eyes, searching for any crack.
There was none. Xu Yan was still Xu Yan.
On the way home, he acted completely normal.
I suggested going to the hospital, but he refused.
When I got home, I’d just finished showering and was about to lie down.
My phone lit up on the pillow.
It was Xu Jiaqing.
After reading the message, my phone slipped and hit the floor.
So the fairy’s taste is orange-flavored.
Next time, how about strawberry? Okay?
(The End)